今週末松戸秋葉神社まつりに参加しました。 お神輿を持ちながら、松戸三丁目東を回りました。 踊りながら、歌いながら進むのは、楽しかった！ 日本のまつりが好きです。 Past weekend I became a full participant of the local festival and carried Omikosi along with everyone for the first time. I felt united with everyone around me, it made me happy. On the photo, our team from Iwase Neighbourhood, who came to help to carry Omikosi in the area of the festival Higashi-san-cho-me. Festival is a chance to meet and chat. We change clothes in the tatami room. Everyone is wearing the festival special clothes: wide jackets with the name of the city and shrine on the front and big signs “祭” on the back. + Long belt, a little pouch, and head towel. Traditional shoes with “2fingers” also desirable.  Festival backstage - women are cooking the food and chatting in the inner room, where the altar for the Shinto God is made with the sacrificial offerings: fruits, vegetables, sake, and rice cakes. The round mirror in the center represents God.

News from a Japanese Neighbourhood  Association community center where I am living.  Today I did a sketch on a cardboard. Then Decided to put some paper with glue stick. Application! And added details by crayon pencils and gel pen. I was happy with result. 松戸市、岩瀬自治会館 二階 On the picture: Kotatsu table, which me and Charlie found in University's garbage and bring here.  My accordion. Blue zabuton seats of Iwase.  Old Brother printer, got broken last week.  Calendar for 2017, which I bring from University library.  Book shelf, which we received from local person.  Now we will collect books and toys on this shelf for common use. Took me around 30 mins to do this by mixed technic.  I was also trying to draw by ink brush. It is fast, compare to my usual pencil and watercolor only. Here is latest sketches of visitors of Iwase Neighbourhood Association and meetings of it's managers.